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Jobs at risk as centralised subbing plans announced

Sub-editing jobs at Newsquest titles in two counties have been put at risk after the publisher announced plans for a centralised subbing operation.

Journalists working at papers in Oxfordshire and Wiltshire were told yesterday about proposals to create a regional editorial production operation in Oxford, which would result in six job losses.

The plans were revealed to staff in an internal announcement by Shamus Donald, regional managing director at Newsquest Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, who said the company was looking for ways to achieve efficiency savings.

In his announcement, Mr Donald said: “Although we have reduced our cost base significantly in recent years, trading conditions remain challenging and we continue to look for ways to streamline the business and achieve efficiency savings.

“We have identified an opportunity for editorial subbing in Oxfordshire and Wiltshire to operate more effectively by creating a regional editorial production operation in Oxford.

“It is proposed that this regional operation, excluding sports subbing, would serve all Oxfordshire and Wiltshire titles. The proposal, if it goes ahead, would result in six redundancies.

“Today we are announcing a consultation period which will last no longer than 30 days, during which the editors will discuss all aspects of the proposal with those affected. The Staff Councils have been briefed.”

Terrible news – sadly, another nail in the coffin. Hilary – JP and Northcliffe aren’t dismantling theirs because they want to return subbing to local offices – they’re just trying to get rid of subs altogether. The subs who will keep their jobs will just be laying out templates for reporters and news editors to write copy directly to. So even worse than centralised subbing hubs, if such a thing were possible.

The cost of keeping on subs is far more expensive than insurance for legal claims that arise from mistakes. Therefore it is a no brainer from an accountants point of view, not sure if our readers will agree or whether we will have any left at the end of this.

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